New Glasgow Jubilee lineup features top Canadian acts

NEW GLASGOW – One of the most unique and recognizable Canadian voices will step up to the Jubilee microphone this August as New Glasgow ‘rocks the river.’

Steven Page

The 2014 New Glasgow Jubilee line-up was announced Tuesday and boasts former frontman for the Barenaked Ladies, Steven Page, the Sam Roberts Band, and Danko Jones as headliners.

Several East Coast performers are also on the bill, including recent ECMA winners Mo Kenney and The Town Heroes, as well as Adam Baldwin, Kim Wempe, SoHo Ghetto and Scientists of Sound to name a few.

It’ll be a return trip for The Town Heroes, but it’s their first official invitation.

Last year, they won a ReverbNation contest to play at Jubilee and were part of the openers for The Sheepdogs.

“It brings people together. It gives people around Pictou County and all around Nova Scotia a reason to go to an awesome festival and gather up their friends and family. We’re very excited to be playing. We’re playing with some great acts,” Mike Ryan of the duo said.

This year, they follow rockers Crash Karma and Danko Jones. Alert The Medic and a ReverbNation act yet to be announced will open on Friday night, Aug. 1.

Nabbing a spot in the Jubilee lineup is only one of several recent accomplishments for the Halifax-based rockers.

They’re fresh off two wins at East Coast Music Awards.

“We’re honoured and so thankful for everyone who supported us along the way. It’s a great experience and we couldn’t be happier about it,” Ryan said.

They’ll be taking their latest album released in October, Sunday Movies, across the East Coast to several festivals this summer and hope to take it out of the country and into the European market in the fall.

Adam Baldwin is also returning to the festival, but as a solo performer.

Baldwin took the stage with Matt Mays last year before heading out on his own.

“I’d be happy to go back with Matt. I’d be happy to go back with anybody. It’s definitely a little more special to go and be able to play my own songs. It’ll be exciting.”

Baldwin opens for The Sam Roberts Band on Saturday, Aug. 2.

“That’s the cherry on top of what was already an exciting show for me,” Baldwin said, adding that he’s friends with the band members.

The Dartmouth-based rocker isn’t new to the East Coast scene, having played with Gloryhound and The Skyhawks as well as Matt Mays & El Torpedo.

With his solo EP and performances, Baldwin feels more ownership, but his personality always came through in his work with Mays.

From Mays, he learned to not only be a part of the band, but a part of the performance, he said.

“I think 50 per cent of going to a show is to hear the songs you want to hear, but they (the audience) also want to see a performance and that’s something I learned from Matt. He’s very much a performer. I try to perform as well and make an interesting night of it for everyone who spent (his or her) hard earned money on a night out.”

Rain Over St. Ambrose, Kim Wempe and Scientists of Sound also take the stage on Saturday.

“That’s going to be pretty cool. He’s pretty awesome. I hope I get to meet him,” she said.

Kenney has received plenty of headlines since releasing her first record in 2012 under Joel Plaskett’s label, New Scotland Records.

“I wasn’t really sure how people were going to react to my record. I hoped that people would like it, but this has been just awesome. I feel really lucky,” she said of the unexpected reaction.

Opening for Kenney and Page on Sunday, Aug. 3, are SoHo Ghetto and Carleton Stone, while Tom Fun Orchestra closes.

The Late Night Stage at Acro Lounge is returning this year as well. Friday, a ReverbNation artist and Black City Avenger will take the stage, followed by Lead Mule and Alert The Medic on Saturday, finishing up with Machete and Rain Over St. Ambrose on Sunday.

Cover charge for late night is $10.

Weekend early bird passes for the main festival go on sale April 19 and are $60. Early bird VIP passes are $120.